After returning to the office in January, the Galway Hospice fundraising team was impressed to see the schedule fill up with darts events for 2023.

Ger Tierney was the first to get in touch about an invitational darts tournament in memory of her father, Billy “The Captain” Tierney. This has been organised by the Tierney family for Billy’s ten-year anniversary and takes place on Sunday week, January 29, at Kawas (Canavan’s) in Tuam.

Ger thought it was fitting to hold a darts competition in his memory to raise much needed funds for Galway Hospice.

“My dad Billy is ten years gone from us on January 22. He was very involved in the darts community and won many championships. He was a great team player and loved the craic. He also loved watching the darts on TV,” she said.

“Daddy was diagnosed with cancer in August 2012 and was under the care of the wonderful Palliative Care Team at Galway Hospice. We will never forget the wonderful care and support Daddy and the family got,” she added.

Also set for January is the Martin McDonagh Memorial Darts tournament, at Glynsk House in Cashel where the winner and runner up take home a perpetual cup and shield. Maryellen McDonagh Conroy is the organiser of this event in honour of her husband Martin, who died in 2019.

“Everyone is looking forward to celebrating Martin and taking part in our third darts tournament,” she said.

The fun begins at 4pm this Sunday, with registration opening at 3pm.

Also coming up on February 4 is the Michael Griffin Memorial Darts Competition, which is set to take place in the Oakland Hotel in Glenamaddy.

Registration takes place from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, with the first dart thrown at 7pm.